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Red Hawks Hope To Improve On Successes In 08-09
The Ripon College swim team experienced success last season that had not been seen in the program's history. The women's team ended the season with a third-place finish at the Midwest Conference Championships, which marked the women's best finish in school history. The men's team had a great performance, finishing sixth at the conference meet, while breaking one school record in the process.
Nearly every swimmer returns for the 2008-09 season, in hopes to improve on that success and break even more records. The women's team returns a wealth of experience with four seniors, five juniors, and three sophomores, who will be joined by five talented freshmen.
Senior Amy Jones (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) will serve as the captain of the team, with fellow seniors Shannon Colburn (Berlin, Wis./Berlin), Nicole Franz (West Chicago, Ill./Community), and Jessica Powell (Berlin, Wis./Berlin), who are all coming off successful seasons.
"Last year was the best year we've had in the history of the women's program, and all the swimmers are returning," head coach Rick Coles said. "We also have some new women in their first year with the team that are also very strong swimmers."
Those newcomers include freshman Lexi Glise (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac), Aimee Kaczmarek (New Berlin, Wis./Nathan Hales), Abby Kaufman (Wittenburg, Wis./Wittenburg-Birnamwood), Nikki Olson (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) and Jolinn Thill (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac). Despite being only freshmen, it is possible that many of them could contribute to the Red Hawks in their inaugural season.
"Swimming isn't like some other sports because there's no physical contact involved, so there's not a maturation process," Coles said. "If they're a fast swimmer in high school, then they'll be a fast swimmer in college, because the water isn't any thicker in college than it is in high school."
Ripon's junior class is also loaded with talent, starting with Jenni Schalla (West Bend, Wis./West Bend), who owns the school record for the 400 IM, which she set last season. She'll look to have another outstanding year, along with fellow juniors Clare Holte (St. Paul, Minn./Central), Lauren Kelly (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth), Davida Smith (Lisle, Ill./Illinois Math and Science Academy) and Laura Yunger (Sauk City, Wis./Sauk Prairie).
The women's team will be rounded out by sophomores Katie Corbett (Burlington, Wis./Catholic Central), Sara Laws (Jakarta, Indonesia/Jakarta International) and Megan Rice (New Berlin, Wis./Waukesha Catholic Memorial), all of whom had significant success last season.
The Red Hawk men's team also has a good mix of veterans and talented newcomers this year. Their team will consist of five seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, and seven freshman.
Senior Parker Heaps (West Bend, Wis./West Bend West) will be counted on to lead the Red Hawks, as their team captain. He enters his final season with the team already holding four school records, including the 50-yard freestyle. He broke that record at last season's conference meet, which had been held for 37 years. Joining Heaps will be fellow seniors Cameron Arndt (Madison, Wis./East), Neil Goldberg (St. Charles, Ill./North), Matt Stensbert (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Wisconsin Rapids), and Grant Erickson (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall), who rejoins the team after a two-year hiatus.
"Erickson swam for us as a freshman and was very good, but wasn't able to swim the last two years," Coles said. "He's back this season, so that should help us tremendously. We also have several other new swimmers on the men's team that should contribute."
Juniors Nicholas Baker (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbrook North), Bruce Kukowski (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) and Severin Larsen (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) all return after successful seasons in 07-08. They will be joined by sophomores C.J. Marx (Manitowoc, Wis./Valders), Austin McNeal (Willits, Calif./Willits), Patrick Shunk (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) and Zach Smith (St. Louis, Mo./Webster).
The men's team will be bolstered by several newcomers that are expected to make immediate contributions to the team. That group of talented freshmen include Lucas Ebert (Grafton, Wis./Grafton), Kevin Kordas (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita), Ben Lehman (Green Lake, Wis./Berlin), Bill Rodgers (Edina, Minn./Edina), Mike Shelafoe (Marquette, Mich./Marquette), Alex Tande (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) and Brandon Taylor (Union, Ore./LaGrand).
"I'm excited for the season and I expect both the men's and women's teams to be better than we were a year ago," Coles said. "We have some excellent swimmers returning and some tremendous new swimmers joining them, and we're looking forward to the start of the season."
The Red Hawks will open the 2008-09 season at the Lake Forest Invitational on November 1. That meet will begin at 2 p.m. at Lake Forest, Ill.
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